April
April has an average maximum temperature of 20.1°C, and an average minimum temperature of 7.0°C. April has an average rainfall of 49.3mm.
What to do this month
  • Trim evergreen shrubs such as Pittosporum, Photinia, Viburnum, Euonymus, Escallonia and conifers.
  • Do not trim Camellias as flower buds are now forming.
  • Start choosing trees for autumn colour to plant in your garden. Take a drive around your neighbourhood to see the best looking autumn trees. The timing of foliage colour varies, so buying a tree now through to May is best.
  • Camellias – Sasanqua Camellias (autumn flowering) are now in store. Come on in and select the best varieties now.
  • Great time to plant Azalea, Rhododendron, Magnolia, Michelia and Pieris. These will all be settled in for a terrific display in spring.
  • Daphne, winter-blooming Grevilleas, Correa Osmanthus Erica, Erysium, Hellebore and other winter colour and scent plants are also good to plant this month.
  • Daphnes enjoy the cooler climates and are tolerant of frost. They like moist, rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil in a cool spot in light shade or with morning sun. If you can’t achieve excellent drainage in the garden, try a pot-grown daphne as a better option.
  • Fertilise azaleas and camellias for beautiful blooms throughout autumn, winter and into spring. Now is the time to feed them with Kahoona pellets. Also great for Rhododendron, Gardenias and Blueberry.
  • Fertilise lemon trees for the coming fruiting season. Also check for scale insects. Spray with horticultural oil.
  • Weather is starting to cool so reduce watering. It’s your last real chance to feed all your evergreen plants before winter. If possible water first thing in morning giving a nice deep watering a couple of times a week.
  • Last real chance to feed all your evergreen plants to help them build resilience before Winter’s cold.
  • Repair of lawns – aerate if soil has become compacted for autumn rain and apply lawn food.
  • Apply top dressing to uneven areas or bare patches. Apply seed and keep moist for 14 to 21 days.  When mowing raise cutting blade height through autumn and winter.
  • Keep up with the weeding to reduce competition for nutrients and water.
  • Check your mulch on garden, veggie patch and beds making sure to give plant stems/trunks space.  Water in after application to retain water soil moisture.
Vegetables
  • Remove three-year strawberries and replace with new virus-free stock.
  • Green manure crop can be planted in unused areas to reinvigorate soil for spring. This is a legume crop that is dug into the soil to add nitrogen.
  • Protect all Brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale) from white cabbage moth. A light dusting of vegetable dust every 3 to 4 weeks will do the trick.
Sow
  • Asian greens
  • Broad beans
  • Onions
  • Peas
  • Shallots
Plant
  • Asian greens
  • Broccoli
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Chinese cabbage
  • Coriander
  • Endive
  • Garlic bulbs
  • Leeks
  • Lettuce
  • Mint
  • Peas
  • Shallots
  • Silver beet
  • Spinach
  • Spring onions
  • Rocket
Harvest
  • Artichoke
  • Asian greens
  • Beans
  • Beetroot
  • Cabbage
  • Capsicum
  • Carrot
  • Chilli
  • Chinese cabbage
  • Corn
  • Cucumber
  • Eggplant
  • Leek
  • Rock melon
  • Parsnip
  • Potato
  • Pumpkin
  • Radish
  • Rhubarb
  • Silver beet
  • Spinach
  • Tomato
  • Turnip
  • Zucchini
Flowers and bulbs
  • Now is the time to come into the nursery to select your bulbs.
  • Plant spring-flowering bulbs – bluebell, crocuses, daffodil, freesia, hyacinth, jonquil, ranunculus, tulips, ixias.
  • Sow some poppies to honour Anzac Day.
  • Plant up pots NOW for bright colour through winter- pansies, viola, primula, polyanthus, primrose, cyclamen, dianthus, cornflower, stock, Don’t forget to plant some of these around your vegie patch to attract beneficial insects.
  • Divide herbaceous perennials e.g. Asters, Daylilies, Irises and Hellebores.
  • Some early bulbs will start to pop up this month.
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